Burngreave Community Action Forum's latest Quarterly Forum Meeting took place on Saturday 27th February at the Burngreave Vestry Hall.
After Lunch, the event started with an item entitled ‘Coping with Cuts’, which focussed on how the area could respond to likely future cuts to funding and projects in the area. An example presentation of how BCAF helped coordinate a response to recent cuts in Adult Learning provision was given.
This was followed by ‘Making the Connections’, which aimed to discuss BCAF’s work on building a network of groups and residents in the area that could be consulted on topics of local interest. Steve Gayle presented his report based on interviews with local community groups, and Lisa Swift gave a presentation on BCAF’s current structure and plans.
Four Workshops were held, at which attendees were invited to give their opinion on how structures could be improved to encourage participation and cooperation in generating practical responses. The subjects and main recommendations are listed below, the full recommendations are listed at bottom of this page • Health – Don’t rely too much on electronic communication to spread health information. • Youth – set up and publicise a mailing list for youth activities. • Housing – Start a working group to focus on housing issues and hold a QFM on the topic. • Abbeyfield Festival – keep the Festival as local an event as possible
Feedback
Feedback received was generally positive, both writing and on the feedback forms. Some felt that lunch should have been held at the end of the meeting, and that more discussion could have been had on the cuts topic.
A large proportion of attendees took the opportunity to sign petitions opposing the cuts in Adult Learning, and to view information about activities, events and projects in the area.
If you need more information, please contact us.
Full Workshop Recommendations
YOUTH PROVISION
More visible youth provision
Mailing lists of provision for parents
Publicising through schools
Workshops
Utilise Facebook
Careers advice using local role-models
Regular career events for Young People
Better partnership working/ joint working
Funding applications to share resources
Utilising voluntary/ working staff already based in schools
HOUSING
Issues
Overcrowding- leading to associated problems i.e. anti social behaviour, health problems
Lack of affordable housing
Supply cannot meet demand i.e. 43 000 household- 100 000 on waiting list 40 000 active
Levels of residents involvement in many areas, i.e. Verdon street , Ellesmere
Involvement
Collect data on issues/ needs information
Tenants residents groups
Scope for individual residents to get involved, boards etc
Sheffield Homes developing lists of residents who may want to be involved
Scope/ interest from some areas in being involved
Making campaigns/ issues relevant
HEALTH
Don’t over emphasise electronic communication
Use street level events to spread news of health issues
Improve coordination between health providers
FESTIVALS
Build on last year’s event
Make extra efforts to involve local groups and communities
Circulate more financial details
Show the World Cup Final
Have a community art piece, display it in an empty community space
Recycle rubbish